Knife-switch.



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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY PRICE BALL, OF NEW YOlth, N. Y., ASSIUNOR 'lO GENERAL lCldiC'lltlt COMPANY,

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

KNIFE-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 10, 1907.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, HENRY PRICE BALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, county of New York, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knife-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to switches and has for its object the improvement in the construction of that type of switch commonly known as a knife-switch. In carrying out my invention I aim to cheapen the cost of production of this switch by making the arts so that the greatest econom of time am material ma be effected, w iile at the same time pro ucing a structure which is thorou hly eflicient and durable.

[y invention, therefore, consists of the details of construction and arrangement of elements hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawin s, Figure l is a perspective view of a switci em )odying my im )rovements; Fig. 2 shows the foot-piece for the clip as it is blanked out; Fig. 3 shows the same with the )arts bent into the desired form; Figs. 4 and 5 show slight modiiications in the bhmk for the foot-piece; Fig. 6 shows the assembled clip; F i". 7 shows an arran ement for making a btllfi connection with tlie clip; and Fig. 8 shows a method of soldering.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is an ordinary insulating switch-base of slate or soapstone to which the switch blades 2 and 3 are pivoted by means of bolts 4 and 5. The rear end of these blades are bent into a delta-shaped head so as to form a good hearing for the cross-bar 6, to which t ie blades are secured in any desirable manner as by riveting. The blades are mounted in clips 7 and S, the construction of which is substantiall the same as that of the contact clips 0 am It). it is the construction of these clips which I consider the principal part of my invention, which i shall now proceed to describe,

Each clip is composed of a foot-piece ll which is blanked out in a punch-press with two slots forming a tongue 12. It has been found that in punching out. these slots the punch is frequently broken. in order to make the punches stronger, I lnake them V-shaped so as to form a punching such as is shown in Fig. 2. The parts 13 and 14 are then bent so as to make the slots parallel. The tongue 12 is now bent up out of the t plane of the foot-piece, but remaining parallel therewith, as shown, the amount of the offset being the thickness of the metallic strip which is bent into a U-shape, and forced into the slots and into engagement with the tongue. The strip is thus flush with the underside of the foot-piece and engages with the sides of the slots, whereby the strip and the foot- )iece are joined very firmly. It is desirable to make the strip of metal of such thickness that it will fit the slots snugly and make a drive fit therewith, but it is evident that if desired the strip could fit loosely and the s ace between the strip and the sides of the s ots be filled with solder. In either constrnction, the strip is firmly held in position between the tongue and the base, and between the tongue and the parts 13 and 14, so as to resist disilaccment in any direction.

In Fig. 4 I rave shown the corners of the slots 15 rounded out so that the parts 13 and 14 may be more easily bent.

in Fig. 5 l have shown the slots punched out with a serrated edge so as to form a better surface for the solder without. preventing the proper linin up of the clips. The joints are now soldereil preferablv with solder-wire in the manner shown in Fig. 8.

In Fig. 7 I have shown the method of mak' ing a back connection. In doing this, I insert a Stud 16 in the hole 17 in the foot-piece. In order to get a greater surface at the end of the stud, I use a taper tap of any degree of taper desired. This stud passes through the base and electrical connection is made therewith upon the underside of the base. in the form shown in Fig. 1, the connections are made by means of screws 18 and connector it).

it will thus be seen that I have produced a switch in which both the supporting and contact clip may be quickly and accurately formed with a minimum waste of material, the foot-pieces being blanked out in a punchpress, while the strips forming the clip proper may be bent into the U-shaped form in a similar manner. The parts may then be quickly assembled by unskilled workmen, verv little finishing being required.

hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,

l. In an electric switch, the combimttion with a base and a blade movably mounted on said base, of a contact clip for engagement with said blade comprising a footpiece secured to said base and having a tongue between slots in said foot-piece struck up from the plane thereof, and a bent engaging stri surroundim said tongue in engagement with the sides 0? said slots and with the portion underlying said tongue resting upon said base.

2. In an electric switch, the combination with a base, of a blade and a cooperating contact, and a supporting clip pivotally carryin said blade comprising a foot-piece secured to said base and having a tongue between slots in said foot-piece struck up from the plane thereof, and an engaging stri bent around said tongue in engagement wit i the sides of said slots and with the portion under-lying said tongue resting upon said base.

3. A clip for an electric switch comprising a foot-piece having a tongue between slots in said foot-piece and bent out of the plane thereof, and a U-shaped engaging strip around said tongue in engagement with the sides of said slots and in fixed relation with said ton us.

4. A c ip for an electric switch comprising a foot-piece having a tongue formed by parallel slots and offset from said footdew, and a metallic strip bent to enter said slots in engagement wit 1 the sides thereof and engage said tongue,-said strip being flush with the underside of the said foot-piece.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of April, 1905.

HENRY PRICE BALL.

Witnesses:

Jumus BmmE'r, HARRY W. Puou. 

